Leinart, 27, is free to negotiate with any team after the Cardinals released him Saturday. If the Texans sign Leinart, he will join starter Matt Schaub and backup Dan Orlovsky.

The Texans were one of the first teams to contact Leinart after he was released and have been among the most interested, ESPN.com reported.

The Cardinals parted ways with the former Heisman Trophy winner days after he went public with his frustration over being replaced by Browns castoff Derek Anderson.

Leinart complained he had outplayed Anderson and that his problems with coach Ken Whisenhunt were "probably away from football." That led to a meeting with Whisenhunt the next day.

The Texans didn't re-sign quarterback John David Booty or add him to the practice squad. But they have a roster spot open and a spot available on the practice squad.

Several outlets reported the Seahawks are not interested in Leinart, who played for coach Pete Carroll at USC.

Meanwhile, the Texans still have interest in former Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel, who could sign this week.

Haynesworth drama: Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who struggled to pass his conditioning test in training camp, is unlikely to start the Redskins' season opener against the Cowboys after a disappointing performance in the final preseason game, the Washington Post reported.

Haynesworth participated in 49 of 55 defensive snaps Thursday against the Cardinals but disappointed the coaching staff with his apparent lack of effort.

Meanwhile, coach Mike Shanahan said he's confident quarterback Donovan McNabb, who has a sprained left ankle, will be able to start Sunday night.

Bills: Safety Jairus Byrd returned to practice for the first time since having groin surgery.

Browns: General manager Tom Heckert said the team was comfortable with its medical reports and evaluations of second-round pick Montario Hardesty, the projected starter who tore his left ACL in the final exhibition game Thursday and is out for the season. Hardesty, who tore his right ACL in 2005 as a freshman at Tennessee, was making his pro debut after missing training camp with a bone bruise in his right knee. … Nose tackle Shaun Rogers is expected to practice this week and be ready for the opener at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Chargers: Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson was close to being traded to an unnamed team, but talks were scrapped because of an impasse over compensation, ESPN.com reported. … Veteran tackle Adam Terry signed a one-year deal, and tackle Ryan Otterson was released.

Colts: Former Florida standout receiver Brandon James, an undrafted rookie, was signed to the practice squad.

Dolphins: Cornerback Will Allen went on season-ending injured reserve, dashing any hopes the 10th-year player had of returning from knee surgery.

Giants: Cornerback Aaron Ross (foot) is expected to return to practice this week.

Jets: Veteran fullback Tony Richardson, receiver David Clowney and running back Chauncey Washington were released to make room for offensive tackle Patrick Brown, defensive tackle Marcus Dixon and receiver Patrick Turner. The move to get rid of Richardson, 38, was surprising because coach Rex Ryan repeatedly said the team would go with two fullbacks. The job now goes to fifth-round pick John Conner.

Raiders: Rookie Jared Veldheer spent nearly all of training camp at left tackle but beat out incumbent Samson Satele after moving to center and will start at Tennessee on Sunday.

Rams: Quarterback Keith Null, who made four starts last season, was among the final cuts after losing a battle for the third spot to Thaddeus Lewis.

Titans: Safety Myron Rolle, a former Florida State standout and Rhodes scholar, earned a spot on the practice squad after clearing waivers.

Vikings: Coach Brad Childress is staunchly defending his decision to keep Tarvaris Jackson as Brett Favre's backup over Sage Rosenfels, who was traded to the Giants on Friday. … Former Florida standout Percy Harvin will be the kick returner in the opener at New Orleans on Thursday.

Trades examined: Three of four rookies involved in curiously timed trades last week have been cut, prompting the players union to look into whether the deals were made to avoid paying money into a special player pool, the Associated Press reported. Under collective bargaining agreement rules for an uncapped year, if a drafted rookie is cut by the team that drafted him, that team must pay 85 percent of that player's salary into a rookie pool. The money from that pool will be distributed to rookies early next year based on the number of downs played in 2010.